First Phase of Gaza Truce Framework Nearly Complete, Says Netanyahu

Benjamin Netanyahu has observed that the first stage of the United Nations-backed Gaza halt in hostilities plan is approaching finalization, adding that the second stage must involve the disarmament of Hamas.

Upcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli leader mentioned he would examine the future steps in late November in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza initiatives were formalized in a UN Security Council decision on 17 November.

“We are nearing conclude the first stage,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to ensure that we achieve the equivalent objectives in the next phase, and that’s something I am eager to reviewing with President Trump.”

European Leader Visits Netanyahu

The prime minister was speaking at a joint press conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who commented: “Stage two must come now and then stage three must also be examined.”

Merz is the initial head of state of a leading European state to hold talks with Netanyahu in Israel since the international criminal court delivered arrest warrants for the Israeli prime minister and his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant, in November last year for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

After winning federal elections in February, Merz had said he would welcome Netanyahu to Germany despite the ICC warrants, but noted on Sunday a visit was not currently planned. Netanyahu disregards the warrants as “baseless allegations” from a “corrupt prosecuting office”.

Terms of the Ongoing Truce

During the first phase of the existing ceasefire deal, Hamas released the remaining 20 living Israeli hostages in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and it has transferred all but one of 28 remains of hostages who died during the war. Concurrently, Israeli forces have pulled back to a truce line, resulting in them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Following the ceasefire was announced on 10 October, Israeli forces have killed more than 360 Palestinians, including an approximate 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been fatally wounded in Hamas attacks over the same timeframe.

Future Stages and Ambiguous Sequencing

Not one of Trump’s suggestions, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which mostly supported them, detailed a timetable extending the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is expected to disarm, Israeli troops are scheduled to withdraw farther, and an international stabilization force is to be set up under the authority of a “board of peace” of world leaders chaired by Trump, supervising a administrative Palestinian committee to run daily governance of Gaza.

The order of these actions is not clear in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his remarks on Sunday, Netanyahu focused on Hamas disarmament.

“I think it’s crucial to make sure that Hamas adheres not only with the ceasefire, but also with their pledge which they undertook to disarm and have Gaza demilitarise,” he said.

Possible Alternatives and Diplomatic Positions

Netanyahu mentioned the possibility of “other options” to the ISF, without elaborating on what those might be. He would not dismiss Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, labeling it as a topic of “negotiation”, and emphasized that Israel was firmly against the establishment of a Palestinian state, the aim of the peace process supported by most European and Arab governments as well as the overwhelming majority of UN member states.

International Criminal Court Warrants and Legal Proceedings

Netanyahu claimed the primary reason he would not be able to make a return visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he described as invented by the court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a way of shifting focus from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any misconduct, but stepped down from his role in May awaiting the outcome of an investigation.

Netanyahu asserted Khan was “destroying the credibility of the ICC” with “trumped-up allegations of starvation and genocide” from a “compromised official”.

A separate tribunal, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is considering allegations that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent investigative commission concluded that Israel had carried out genocide.

Questioned about the prospect of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz informed reporters on Sunday: “There is no reason to discuss this at the present time.”